Appreciations
View(s):A worthy descendant of a great family
Balakumaran Mahadeva
Deshamanya, Balakumaran Mahadeva, popularly known as Baku Mahadeva passed away at the age of 92 years on November 29, last year after leading a fruitful and illustrious life. He entered the Ceylon Civil Service and through his remarkable conduct and performance he adorned that service. During a period of 35 years while he held many vital and pivotal positions in the administration of this country under several governments, his amazing intellectual energy and sharp mind enabled him to solve difficult and controversial issues and problems without causing hardship and dissatisfaction to the concerned parties.
He came of an ancient lineage and was the scion of one of the most illustrious and best known families whose members during the course of the 19th Century and the first four decades of the 20th Century served this country in so many ways always keeping in mind the attainment of political independence and the winning of freedom from the British Colonial rule as the foremost goal and they together with the Sinhala and other leaders were in the vanguard of the Freedom Movement.
Baku Mahadeva’s family provides excellent proof of a classic example of heredity in the field of intellectual power and intelligence.
Baku’s grandfather, Sir Ponnambalan Arunachalam was the first Ceylonese to enter the then elitist Ceylon Civil Service through an open competitive examination (1875)) and was after retirement the Founder-President of the Ceylon National Congress, the leading political organisation which pioneered the freedom movement.
Ponnambalan Arunachalam was the winner of the Turnour Prize awarded to the best student of Royal College. Baku’s grand uncle Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, the fearless legislator whom even the Governor feared to interrupt or question while he was on his feet attacking the colonial government in the debates in the Legislative Council became the first native Solicitor General when he was only 29 years of age.
Baku’s own father Sir Arunachalam Mahadeva, lawyer, legislator, minister and statesman was himself the winner of the much sought after Turnour Prize and the family tradition was continued by Baku himself being the recipient of this Prize in his time followed by his own son Wijeyaraj Ananda Kumar being also adjudged the winner.
Baku Mahadeva’s great-granduncle Sir Muttu Coomarasamy was the Tamil member of the Legislative Council in the 1860s and he had the great distinction of being the first non Christian Asiatic to be called to the English Bar. Sir Muttu’s son Ananda Coomarasamy, the well known international scholar brought to the knowledge and appreciation of the western world the value of Sinhala and Asian art and civilization. Baku’s own cousin and also brother-in-law the Late Professor T. Nadaraja produced some of the best legal scholars and policy makers of this country.
In this highly intellectual, learned and social background Baku was called upon to discharge a formidable burden to keep the family flag flying high and during his colourful and highly useful life Baku Mahadeva proved that he was a worthy descendant of this great family and was in his own right an illustrious and brilliant product of this country.
It is also a fact that despite the very high achievements and attainments of Baku and the members of his family he was throughout self effacing and abhorred any kind of pomposity but at the same time Baku and the members of his family took justifiable pride in their dedicated service to the development of the nation in numerous fields – whether it be education, social service or cultural and spiritual development.
He retired from the public service at the end of a distinguished career in the course of which his high talents and many of his skills were used for the benefit of the public service. He found after retirement he was equally busy as his services were sought after by the State as well as by large private establishments and leading banks.
Baku’s deep devotion to the Hindu religion and its temporalities kept him fully occupied particularly in the management of the famous Hindu Temple in Kochchikade-Mutwal which had been built, extended and refurbished by the great Hindu families including Baku’s ancestors and relatives and greatly helped by the Coomarasamys.
Many were the occasions Baku visited South India to consult and invite expert builders, architects and skilled artisans to repair and refurbish this great Hindu edifice which is an architectural marvel depicting Hindu culture and civilization.
He was a happy father that his son Wijayaraj Ananda Kumar, M.B.A. (Harvard) who is an internationally known and respected entrepreneur has reached great heights in the field of business in the U.S.A. His daughter Isvari, M.B.A. (Wharton, Pennsylvania) is a shining star in the banking circles of New York city. His beloved wife Sundari looked after him with loving care throughout his illness and during the last few months when failing health caused him to be confined to his home. Sundari gave him all the care and attention during the last stages of his life.
My late wife and I have had the great privilege of closely associating with Baku and Sundari for over 50 years and also have had the benefit of Baku’s wise counsel and mature advice on many occasions.
A.A. de Silva, PC
A gentleman to his fingertips
Anura Senaka Bandara Madawala
They say the good die young, so it was with Anura Senaka Bandara Madawala who left us so suddenly after a massive cardiac arrest. He showed us all that life is at best brief like the falling of a leaf. The near and dear cannot yet believe that Anura is no more.
It was just the other day before his demise that he was in full flight and action at my birthday, laughter, song and dance his most jolly and jovial characteristics. He really enjoyed life and had a happy-go-lucky outlook that was loved by all.
Born to an aristocratic family in Galagedara, he entered Trinity College, Kandy, excelling in Rugby, like his father who represented the college’s 1st XV in the 1920s. Soon after college, he joined the plantations sector as a young tea planter. He soon garnered much respect for his dedication to work, discipline, and integrity. His hallmark was helping anyone who needed help and advice, irrespective of class, creed or kind, so much so that some of his subordinate staff dedicated a booklet titled “Apa dutu Madawala” as a tribute to him.
Anura’s character was unique in that he could adapt himself to any situation. His malleability was seen in his ability to be a tea planter, voluntary army officer, head of games at his alma mater, TCK, and finally in the hospitality trade at Amaya Hills Hotel, Kandy. If he had lived on, his next pursuit would be anyone’s guess.
I am sure that Anura’s many nieces and nephews miss him greatly, as I, a dear uncle who had known him for over 35 years, do too. First he was a dear friend, later a close relative through marriage to my niece Anoma. He would sometimes refer to me, his favourite uncle, as “Mama Machan” during our countless pranks and antics.
However, there were also numerous occasions where we disagreed. Yet, due to his firmness of character and strong principles, these arguments were soon forgotten.
No one can deny that he was an outstanding gentleman. Honest to the utmost, to himself and to everyone else. Our families miss him dearly. Of course, Nanda and I will be there in a big way to soften the tremendously painful blow. Finally, I would like to pay respects and salute you Anura, for your golden qualities and for the exemplary man you were.
May you attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana!
Quintus Marambe
He lived life to the full
Shanthalal Dimbulane
It is indeed difficult, almost impossible to let the inevitable fact sink in — the fact that my closest colleague and friend Shanthalal Dimbulane is no more. A sheer twist of fate caused the chain of events and the prolonged agony, resulting in Shantha’ s untimely death.
Shantha as we affectionately called him, in every sense of his name, was peaceful. He was so full of life and vigour, abundant with good humour, always radiating happiness. He was the life, soul and centre of attraction at any gathering and a sine qua-non at any social party.
As a capable and smart lawyer gifted with eloquence and ready wit, Shantha’s professional capacity was confined to a provincial practice only by his own choosing because he was essentially a family man, who remained with his closely knit family in Badulla.
He did not seek prestige and power. Positions were offered to him such as chairman of the Provincial Public Service Commission, president of the Dayaka Saba of Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya and lawyer for the Employers Federation. These he accepted. But he declined the offers that would have made him the Mayor of the Badulla Municipal Council or an MP, because it involved a full-time commitment. Shantha’s firm policy was not to accept any position that he could not do justice to.
Shantha lived his life fully — sporting (cricket in particular), travelling (here and abroad), partying and engaging in fun and frolic. He was a shining example of simplicity, always available, approachable to anyone who needed his professional and personal help or advice.
Dearest Shantha, may I reiterate my wish I offered on your last journey….
“May the rains be gentle, and sunshine bright.
May the wings blow softy, and Earth rest light
Upon you, dear Shanta both morn and night”.
Vijaya Niranjan Perera
Achcha, I will always remember you
Sita Ranatunga
“Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear.”
-Author Unknown
It’s been a month since she passed away, but the loss and pain of her death has not faded in any way. When I was born, Achcha had already been a loving and caring grandparent for six years but I, the third and youngest grandchild, was still a bundle of happiness in her world.
Each grandmother in the world is different, and each has qualities which make them special to little girls like me. As I grew up in Australia, my time with Achcha was limited and this made me appreciate it all the more.
There were many qualities about Achcha which made her special. Her famous cooking (her hoppers and milk toffees will forever be my favourite), her amazingly generous spirit and that beautiful smile I couldn’t wait to see every Saturday on Skype.
One other unique ability Achcha had, which I will forever remember, was her ability to feed all her three grandchildren from one plate and make sure they finished everything. As a result of this, she somehow managed to feed us more than we would normally eat and all the foods we never liked eating. Even at 17 years of age, there was nothing quite like a meal fed by Achcha.
Another thing I will always remember Achcha for is introducing me to the game of Scrabble. One of my favourite things to do on a trip to Sri Lanka was sit down with Achcha and play a game of Scrabble. As a result, I began playing in Scrabble competitions and was honoured when she even came to watch me on one of her trips to Australia.
To her grandchildren, she will always be an amazing Achcha, but the one thing she will be remembered for is her dedication to Buddhism. She had no doubt given more poojas and danas than many of us can hope to give in our lifetime. She had also stitched over 40 katina robes, and my interest in sewing will help me learn and continue to stitch these robes to follow the example she set for us.
The last month has been one of the longest and hardest of my life, but as the reality of losing Achcha slowly sinks in, I realise that I must now move forward. There are a few things I will not do without remembering Achcha or one of the many things she taught me. Every time I visit the temple, I will remember the example Achcha set for us in following the Dhamma. Whenever I watch my mother make hoppers, or whenever I make milk toffees, I will always picture standing by Achcha’s side as she taught me how to make these things.
Although Achcha used to always mention her death or comment on the days we would eventually live without her, living that reality is a lot harder than I expected. There isn’t a day that goes by in which I don’t pause and think how different life is without her and how it will forever remain like this.
Achcha, I love you and I miss you and it doesn’t matter how much time has passed; I will love and miss you no less. And wherever I am or whatever I am doing, I will always remember you and the things you taught me.
Nethmi Ratnayake